Mutual Learning: Living independently in cities – local approaches for persons with disabilities cover image
15 October 2025 at 19:30 — 15 October 2025 at 23:00
19:30 Official Dinner

Venue TBC

9:00-9:15 Arrival and registration

Fonds Soziales Wien - FSW Bildungszentrum Erdbergstrasse 200 - Room 00.22 and 00.23

9:15-9:45 Opening session

Welcoming words by Vienna

  • Susanne Gabrle, Management disability & inclusion of the Vienna Social Fund/Mayor or DM, City of Vienna (tbc)

Opening words by Eurocities

  • Sofia Martinsson, representative of the Eurocities’ informal WG on the inclusion of persons with disabilities (tbc)
9:45-10:30 Participants' updates and expectations

Updates from participants on their work, current trends and local policies on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. It will be an opportunity to reflect on the expectations for the two mutual learning days.

10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:00 Setting up the context – Ensuring independent living for persons with disabilities in Vienna

Introduction to the city of Vienna, the VS and services for persons with disabilities

  • Ivana Veznikova, Jutta Rozinski, Management disability & inclusion of the Vienna Social Fund, City of Vienna
  • TBA
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break
13:00-14:00 Transfer to the site visit

45 Minutes – underground U3 Erdberg – U1 Keplerplatz

Find the address on Google Maps

14:00-15:30 Site visits

Participants can choose to attend one site visit

  • Leben ohne Krankenhaus (LOK)/Grätzlkreis and Garconnierenverbund: supported housing and peer support activities - Address

LOK – Leben ohne Krankenhaus offers community-based support services for people with disabilities/mental health issues. The Garconnierenverbund in the 10th district provides independent living in small apartments, combined with tailored psychosocial support on site. The Grätzlkreis complements this by offering group activities and opportunities for social participation in the neighborhood. The focus is on empowering individuals to live self-determined lives within their community and to support each other through peer support.

More information

  • Jugend am Werk, Integrationsfachdienst: labour market inclusion projects - Address

​​​​​​​Jugend am Werk Wien offers specialized vocational support through Jobwärts, an integration service for people with disabilities or mental health issues. The focus is on sustainable job placement and workplace integration in the general labor market. Jobwärts is a mobile service going to the sheltered workshops (supported by the Praktische Berufsorientierung) informing clients about work opportunities and their service. Individualized coaching, information to employers on relevant topics, mediation, and on-the-job support are key components. The service aims to strengthen professional inclusion and long-term employment opportunities.

More information

 

15:30-17:00 Reflecting on lessons learned from Vienna’s approach to independent living for persons with disabilities

Interactive workshop to identify the key learning points as well as elements that could be transferred into a different context.

19:30 Informal Dinner

Magdas Hotel, 1030 Wien, Ungargasse 38 (U3 Rochusgasse) 

Join fellow participants for the dinner, where we will enjoy local cuisine and pleasant conversations.

8:30 Meeting point

Stephansplatz/central/Depending on Hotel location and transfer to the site visit 

9:15-10:40 Site visits

Participants can choose to attend one site visit 

  • Organisation Wiener Sozialdienste, Garconnierenverbund Seestadt: network appartments, supported housing for persons with high support needs - Address

Wiener Sozialdienste provide professional support for persons with mental health challenges, promoting independent living and social inclusion. The Garconnierenverbund Seestadt offers assisted living in individual apartments, tailored to the needs of each resident. On-site support provides regular psychosocial assistance, focusing on recovery-oriented approaches, collaborating with the community-based psychiatric care. The aim is to enable clients to lead autonomous and stable lives.

More information

  • Organisation HABIT, Garconnierenverbund Seestadt: network appartments, supported housing for persons with psychiatric support needs - Address

​​​​​​​HABIT – Haus der Barmherzigkeit Integrationsteam provides individualized support for people with complex needs/high support needs and intellectual disabilities. The Garconnierenverbund Seestadt offers barrier-free, self-contained apartments with on site person-centered assistance. Support focuses on daily living, social participation, and fostering independence. The goal is to enable clients to live a self-determined life.

More information

10:40-11:30 Transfer to the venue

Vienna Social Fund, Guglgasse 7-9, 1030 Wien, Austria - Address

Room: Third floor, Seestadt/Donauinsel

11:30-11:45 Coffee break
11:45-12:30 Good practices from cities on how to promote independent living for persons with disabilities

As an alternative to a traditional debate, the fishbowl technique aims to generate meaningful one-on-one discussions on the pros and cons of a given subject. A pair of cities sits opposite each other and are isolated to discuss, while the rest of the participants sit around the outside and observe without interrupting. The facilitator is focused on the core group discussion.

Read here the call for good practices and apply before 31 July!

12:30-13:30 Lunch Break
13:30-15:00 Transfer session on urban challenges

Two presenting cities (TBD) will focus on the challenges local authorities face when addressing independent living for persons with disabilities.

Read here the call for challenges and apply before 31 July!

15:00-15:30 Closing remarks
  • Rapporteurs from the parallel sessions sharing the conclusions 

  • XXXX, Head of the Vienna Social Fund, City of Vienna (tbc) 

  • Sofia Martinsson, representative of the Eurocities’ informal WG on the inclusion of persons with disabilities